Rail retaining and spike fastening means



Dec. 28, 1948. 0." w. MULLER 2,457,592

RAIL RETAINING AND SPIKE FASTENING MEANS I Filed April 21, 1944 s sh ets-sheet 1 /f9 16 Ilium l 7 HJIIIIF MIIIHI I I :1

Dec. 28, 1948. G. w. MULLER 2,457,592

RAIL RETAINING AND SPIKE FASTENING MEANS I Filed April 21, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec, 28, 1948. I G. w. MULLER 7 2,457,592

' RAIL RETAINING AND SPIKE FASTENING MEANS Filed April 21, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 vG eozye WMuHer;

i i l I 4 I 1' I l Q ileum Patented Dec. 28, 1948 RAIL RETAINING AND SPIKE FASTENING MEANS -George W. Muller, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application April 21, 1944, Serial No..532,07-1

12 Claims.

This invention relates to railway track structures, and represents a carrying forward of the inventions described and claimed in my prior patents, No. 2,291,743 of August 4, 1M2 and No. 2,434,579 of January 13, 1948, for retaining rails upon tie-plates and for preventing upward loosening movement of the spikes by which the tieplates are fastened upon the ties, as well as for urging the spikes more firmly into the ties in harmony with any downward wear of the tieplates into the ties.

Unless tie-plate and rail fastening spikes are held against upward loosening movement and are urged downwardly as wear or sinking of the tie plates into the ties occurs, theysoon become loose, creep upwardly, fail properly to accomplish their purpose and permit the ties to drop from the rails, with the result that an infirm, dangerous and noisy track condition soon develops and becomes worse at a progressively increasing rate with the passing of time. Accordingly, the general object of the present invention is to provide simple, practical and efiicient means to maintain railway spikes at all times tight wherebythe track structure is maintained firm so as to possess long life and be conducive to smooth, safe passage of trains thereover with little track noise.

In connection with any given tie and tie-plate two spikes may sometimes be employed at either or both sides of a rail, and in such instances both of the spikes at either side of the rail maybe employed as combined tie-plate and rail fasteners, or solely as tie-plate iasteners,-or-one of them may be employed solely as a tie-plate fastener and the other may be employed as a combined tie-plate and rail fastener. In any event, one special object of the present invention is to provide in any such instance a resilient clamp-plate which spans the space between the spikes and is seated upon the heads thereof and which is secured to the tie-plate and is maintained under downward flexure exerting constant downward pressure upon the spikes so that the latter are held effectively against any upward loosening movement relative to the tie and are urged more firmly into the tie as any wear or sinking of the tie-plate into the tie occurs. Thus, the tie-plates are maintained firmly seated upon the ties and the ties are held against droppin relative to the rails so that should any tie tend to become loose in the road-bed the finer particles of the roadbed material may creep beneath and maintain the same high. As a consequence, all of the ties remain high andfirmly supported, vloosespikes and tie-plates are avoided and the net result is, as

2 aforesaid, a firm .track which possesses long life and is conducive to smooth, safe passage of trains thereover with .little track noise.

Another speciaLo'bje'ct of .the present'invention is to provide, for use in association with a clampplate which is employed to secure two spikes against upward loosening movement, a resilient rail-retaining plate .to retain the 'rail'upon the tie-plate.

Another special object of. the invention is to provide for use in connection with any single spike, a clamp-plate of novel form for cooperation with the spikeand the tie-plate in a novel manner to 'hold the spike against upward loosening movement relative to the tie.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more'fully apparent as the nature of. the invention is .better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of elements, andiinthenovel features of construction thereof, as "will be hereinafter more iully described, illustrated in the accompaying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 is a transversesection through a'portion of a trackshowing a portion of a tie, a tieplate superimposed thereon, the base portion of rail seated upon the tie plate, and a pair of clamp-plates constructed and employed in accordance with the invention.

Figure ,2 is a plan view of the-structure shown in Fig. 1, the rail beingshown insection.

Figure '3 is a side elevation of the structure shown .in Figs. 1 and'2.

Figure 4 is .aview similar to Fig. -1.illustr.ating an alternative spike and clamp-plate arrangement.

Figure .5 .is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. .4.

Figure 6.is aside elevationlof the construction shown in Figs. 4. and .5.

Figure 7 av view similar .to :Figs. .1 and .5 illustrating another alternative embodiment .of the invention.

Figure .8 is a cross-sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 51.

Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Fig. 8 illustrating other alternative arrangements in accordance with the invention; and 7 Figures v11, 12 and 13 are views similar to Figs. .1, 2 .and 3, respectively, illustrating another alternative embodiment of the invention According to each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention a portion of a tie is designated as A, a tie-plate or a portion thereof superimposed upon the tie is designated as B, the base portion of a rail seated upon the tie-plate is designated as C, spikes for fastening the tie-plate upon the rail and, in some instances serving also for rail retaining purposes, are designated as D, a spike-securing clamp-plate is designated as E, and a fastener for securing the clamp-plate to the tie-plate is designated as F. i

According to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l t'o 3, a pair of spikes D is employed at each side of the rail, one spike of each pair being spaced outwardly from the related edge of the rail flange l0 and serving solely as a tie-plate fastener and the other being located adjacent to the related edge of the rail flange and having the lip portion of its head ll overlying the rail flange to serve as a rail re- A tainer. The heads of the tie-plate-fastening spikes are shown as being directly engaged with the tie-plate to hold the latter against upward movement relative to the tie. On the other hand, the lips of the rail-retaining spikes are shown as being spaced above the rail flanges to avoid interference with free passage through the rail of the natural vertical Wavemotion imparted thereto by trains passingthereover. Moreover, the tieplate, is shown as being provided with shoulders l2 for cooperation with the edges of the rail flanges to hold the rail, against lateral movement relative to the tie-plate; It is. to be understood, however, that the lips of the rail-retaining spikes may engage the rail flanges, as shown for example in Fig. 9, and that said rail-retaining spikes may be employed in lieu-of tie-plate shoulders to hold'the rail against lateral movement relative to the rail.. In any event, the shanks l3 of the spikes extend through openings in the tie-plate into the tie and the space between the heads H ofthe spikes of each pair isspanned by a clampplate E, the end portions M of which are seated upon said heads ll. Moreover, the clamp-plates are resilient, being formed preferably from high grade spring steel, and each of them, intermediate its ends, is suitably secured to the tie-plate and is maintained under downward flexure as, for example, by means of a fastener F inthe form of a bolt l5. The weight of the rail itself and train weights imposed upon therail tend constantly to urge the tie-plate downwardly against the tie. Accordingly, since each clamp-plate is secured to the tie-plate and is constrained to move downwardly therewith, the end portions of each clamp plate are caused to exert constant downward pressure upon the heads of the related pair of spikes whereby any upward loosening movement of the spikes relative to the tie is prevented and the same are forced more firmly into the tie as any sinking or wearing of the tie-plate into the tie occurs. As a consequence, the spikes are maintained tight and the'tie-plate is maintained securely fastened upon the tie. Moreover, the tie is held against dropping relative to the rail so thatin the event any space should tend to develop between the underside of the .tie and the roadbed, the finer particles of the roadbed materialmay creep into such space and thus maintain the tie high and firmly supported. Accordingly, in any given length of track all of the spikes and the tie-plates are maintained tight and the ties aremaintained high and firmly supported so that they firmly support the rails. The net result is a firm track structure which possesses lo g l fe and which is conducive to smooth, safe passage of trains thereover with little track noise.

In a construction as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the heads of the rail-retaining spikes are disposed higher than the heads of the tie-plate securing spikes. Accordingly, the outer end portions It of the clamp-plates E are stepped downwardly relative to the intermediate portions l6 of said plates and are connected to said intermediate portions by substantially vertically disposed leg portions H to compensate for this difference in the elevations of said spike heads. If desired, however, the intermediate and the outer end portions of said clamp-plates may be disposed in substantially a common plane, or both outer end portions of said clamp-plate may be stepped downwardly relative to the intermediate portion thereof, in any instance where this might be desirable. Moreover, both end portions 14 preferably are formed to provide downwardly opening socket formations of substantially spherical contour to accommodate and seat securely upon the rounded tops of the spike heads and to insure against rotation of the clamp-plates about their fasteners F from their operative positions relative to the spikes. I

Regarding the fasteners F, these may be in the form of bolts as shown, or they may be of any other suitable form such, for example, as shown in my prior patent or in my copending application.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, both of thespikes shown are solely tie-plate fasteners. In other respects the construction is the same as the Figs. 1 to 3 construction, except that both end portions H! of the clamp-plate are stepped downwardly relative to the intermediate portion l6 of said plate in view of the heads of the spikes D being disposed at the same elevation.

According to the Figs. 7 and 8 embodiment of the invention the construction is the same as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 with the addition of a separate rail-retaining plate E the outer end portion 88 of which overlies and is held against the medial portion l6 of the clamp-plate E by the fastener F and the inner end portion l9 of which is seated upon the rail flange. If desired the plate E may be welded or otherwise fastened to the plate E. g

The plate E is resilient and acts resiliently to retain the rail upon the tie-plate without seriously interfering with passage through the rail of the natural vertical wave motion imparted to it by trains passing overthe same. Said plate also serves to hold the rail from creeping, tilting or twisting. I v

To hold the plate E against rotation about the fastener F from its operative position relative to the rail and the clamp-plate E, said plate E may have at its outer end a down-turned flange 20 engaged with theouter edge of' the medial portion It of the clamp-plate E, and, if desired, said flange may extend downwardly to and seat upon the top of the tie-plate to act as a stop to limit downward fleXu're of the plate E by the fastener F, thus to predetermine the amount of spring energy stored in said plate E. Alternatively, any other suitable means may be provided for holding the plate E against rotation and for limiting downward flexure of the plate E.

Fig. 10 illustrates that, in a construction otherwise the same as, or the equivalent of, the Figs. 7 and '8 construction, the rail retaining plate, designated as E may have a downwardly directed portion 21 adjacent to its inner'end to seat 'upo-n the'tie-plate adjacent to the rail flange, as upon the rib 12 for-example, and may have its inner end portion overlying the rail flange in spaced relationship thereto to retain the rail upon the tie-plate and yet permit the rail to partake freely of the natural vertical wave motion imparted to it by trains passing thereover.

In some instances a pair of spikes or only a single spike maybe employed at either or both sides of the rail for both rail and tie-plate fastning purposes to the exclusion of any spike or spikes for solely tie-plate fastening purposes. An instance of this kind is illustrated by way of eX- ample in Fig. 9 of the drawings wherein the spike D has the lip of its head I l overlying and engaging the rail flange so as to serve as both a rail and tie-plate fastener and there is not employed any spike spaced outwardly from the rail solely for tie-plate fastening purposes. In any such instance the lip or lips of the spike head or heads, as the case may be, may engage the rail flange or may be spaced thereabove, and one or more clamp-plates of the type illustrated in Fig. 9 may be employed to hold the spike -or -spikes against upward loosening movement and "to urge the same downwardiymorefirmly into thetie as any wear or sinking of the tie-plate into the tie takes place.

. The inner end portion M of the clamp plate illustrated in Fig. 9 and designated as E is provided with a downwardly opening socket formation of preferably spherical contour to accommoof said clamp-plate is provided with a downwardly directed leg 22 to rest upon the tie-plate, while between its inner and its outer ends said clamp-plate is secured to the tie-plate and maintained under suitable downward flexure by a suitable fastener F. Consequently, said clampplate acts in the same general manner as the clamp-plates previously described to urge the spike constantly downwardly and thus hold the same against any upward loosening movement relative to the tie; also, to urge the spike more firmly into the tie in harmony with any wear or sinking of the tie-plate into the tie.

Figs. l1, l2 and 13 illustrate a tie-plate which is fastened to a tie by a single spike at each end of the tie-plate, and further illustrate clampplates similar to the clamp-plate shown in Fig. 9, one individual to each spike, for securing the spikes against upward loosening movement relative to the tie. As distinguished from the Fig. 9 construction, the spikes of the Figs. 11 to 13 construction are solely tie-plate-fastening spikes and the spike-head-engaging end portions of the clamp-plates, designated as E are stepped downwardly relative to the medial portions of said clamp-plates as in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawing and as indicated at 4?, while the other ends of said clamp-plates are turned downwardly for engagement with the tie-plate as in the Fig. 9 construction and as indicated at 22'. In other respects the Figs. 11 to 13 construction is the same as the Fig. 9 construction and the mode of operation is as heretofore described in connection with the other forms of the invention. Of course, there may be more than a single spike at each end of the tie-plate, in which event duplicates of the holding devices illustrated in Figs. 11 to 6 18m ns be provided for the additionalspike or spikes.

According to any of the different embodiments of the invention the fastener F may be locatediat any desired point along the length of the medial portion of the clamp-plate so that the two end portions of the clamp-plate may be urged downwardly under either equal or unequal forces as may be desired.

"From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction and operation of the present spike holding means will be clearly understood and its advantages appreciated. It is desired to-point out, however, that while only certain specific structural embodiments of the invention havebeen illustrated and described, the

same is readily capable of specifically different structural embodiments within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a railway track structure, a tie, a tie-plate superimposed thereon, a rail seated upon said tiepla'teand acting by its own weight and by trainweights imposed thereon to urge the tie-plate downwardly against the tie, a pair of headed track element fastening spikes extending through openings in said tie-plate into the tie, a highly resilient sheet steel clamp-plate spanning the space between said spikes and seated upon the heads thereof, and a bolt securing said clamp-plate intermediate its ends to said tieplate and maintaining the same under material downward flexure exerting constant downward dat t spike head and t outer end portion pressure upon said spikes, whereby the latter are held against upward loosening movement relative to the tie and are urged constantly downwardly into more secure engagement with the tie in harmony with any appreciable amount of downward wear of the tie-plate into the tie.

2. In 'a railway track structure, a tie, a tie-plate superimposed thereon, a rail seated upon said tieplate "and acting by its own weight and by trainweights imposed thereon to urge the tie-plate downwardly against the tie, a pair of headed tieplate-fastenin'g-spikes extending through openings "in said tie-plate into the tie, a highly resilient sheet steel clamp-plate having its end portions seated upon the heads of said spikes, a highly resilient sheet steel rail-retaining plate having its outer end portion superimposed upon the medial portion of said clamp-plate and its inner end portion overlying the flange of the rail, and a bolt engaged with said tie plate and 7 extending through the outer end portion of said rail-retaining plate and through the medial portion of said clamp-plate and holding said outer end portion of said rail-retaining plate against the medial portion of said clamp-plate and maintaining the said medial portion of said clampplate under material downward fiexure, whereby said spikes are held against upward loosening movement relative to the tie and are urged constantly downwardly into more secure engagement with the tie in harmony with any appreciable amount of downward movement of the tie-plate relative to the tie, and whereby said rail-retaining plate is maintained in operative relationship to the rail.

3. A railway track structure as set forth in claim 2 including means separate from and cooperating with the bolt to hold the rail-retaining plate in fixed relationship to the clamp-plate.

4. A railway track structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the rail-retaining plate has a lip engaging an edge of the clamp-plate and co-v operating with the bolt to hold the rail-retaining plate in fixed angular relationship to the clampplate.

5. A railWay track structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the inner end portion of the rail-retaining plate is seated upon the rai1 flange.

.6. A railway track structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the rail-retaining plate is pro: vided at its outer end with a downwardly extend ing flange seated upon the tie-plate.

7. A railway track structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the rail-retaining plate is provided at its outer end with a downwardly ex-, tending flange engaging an edge of the clamp:

1 plate and cooperating with the bolt to hold the rail-retaining plate in fixed angular relationship to the clamp-plate and in which said flange is seated upon the tie-plate,

8. A railway track structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the rail-retaining plate adjacent to its inner end is seated upon the tie-plate adjacent to the outer edge of the rail flange and in which the inner end portion of said rail-retaining plate overlies the rail flange in spaced relationship thereto. 1

9. A railway track structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the end portions of the clampplate are disposed below the medial portion of said plate and are connected with the said medial portion of said clamp plate by substantially vertically disposed leg portions.

10. A one-piece highly resilient sheet steel clamp plate to hold a pair of spikes against upward loosening movement relative to a tie into which they are driven, said clamp plate comprising end portions to be seated upon the heads of p the spikes and a medial portion to be fastened under material downward fiexure to a tie plate, and a second highly resilient sheet steel rail holding clamp plate to have one end portion seated upon and fastened against the intermediate portion of said spike holding clamp plate and to have its other end portion overlie the flange of a rail.

11. A one-piece highly resilient sheet steel clamp plate to hold a pair of spikes against up- .8, ward loosening movement relative to a tie into which they are driven, said clamp plate comprising end portions to be seated upon the heads of the spikes and a medialportion to be bolted to a tie plate and drawn under material downward flexure to maintain said end portions urged downwardly against the spikes, and a second highly resilient sheet steel clamp plate to have one end portion seated upon and fastened against the medial portion of said first mentioned plate and to have its other end portion overlie the flange of a rail, the first mentioned end portion of said second mentioned plate being turned downwardly to engage the outer edge of the medial portion of said first mentioned plate to hold said second mentioned plate against rotation relative to said first mentioned plate. I

12, Clamp plates as set forth in claim 11 in which the downturned end portion of the second mentioned plate is of a height to contact a tie plate when the medial portion of the first mentioned plate is under downward flexure.

GEORGE W. MULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,072,991 Quin l Sept. 9,.1913 1,159,842 James Nov. 9, 1915 1,260,563 McVicker Mar. 26, 1918 1,283,726 Gee Nov. 5, 1918 1,306,968 Meklemburg June 17, 1919 1,319,168 McVicker Oct. 21, 1919 1,328.533 McVicker Jan. 20, 1920 1,338,431 Fitzpatrick Apr. 27, 1920 1,555,382 Pronini Sept. 29, 1925 1,602,813 Davis Oct. 12, 1926 1,941,103 Moore et a1. Dec. 26, 1933 1,995,020 Woodings Mar. 19, 1935 2,158,057 Febrey May 16, 1939 2,160,344 Ryan 1 May 30, 1939 2,203,624 Clarkson June 4, 1940 2,281,750 Clarkson May 5, 1942 2,291,743 Muller Aug. 4, 1942 

